September 13, 2023
In this Issue: Lake Dems 2nd Annual Shades of Blue Fundraiser ● Democrats’ Healthcare Policies Save Money and Lives ● September is Suicide Prevention Month ● Governor JB Pritzker is Coming to Lake County to Support State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart ● Lake County Board Allocates All of the $135.2M in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds ● Senator Mary Edly-Allen Petition Kickoff in Round Lake ● Sara Knizhnik Fundraiser for Re-Election to the Lake County Board ● Did You Get Your Lake Dems Hat Yet? ● What Goes Great with a Lake Dems Hat? A Lake Dems T-Shirt, of Course! ● ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) ● Upcoming Events
Lake Dems 2nd Annual Shades of Blue Fundraiser
When: Sunday, October 15 from 2-4pm
Where: Hyatt Regency Deerfield
What: We will present our Leadership Award to Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart, Volunteer of the Year Award to Fremont Township Democrats Chair Matt Lowry, Labor Leader of the Year Award to Painters District Council 14 Business Representative Todd Overdorf, and our Lifetime Achievement Award to State Representative Rita Mayfield. Our exciting keynote and featured speakers will also be announced soon.
Our rights are on the ballot — bodily autonomy, freedom from gun violence, workers’ rights, and so much more. We hope that you will sign up to join us at our 2nd annual event. Mark your calendar and reserve your seat now! Lakedems.org/ShadesofBlue
Democrats’ Healthcare Policies Save Money and Lives
By Barbara Altman, Lake Dems Vice Chair
Last week The New York Times reported that Medicare spending has slowed dramatically over the last decade. According to the article, the trend is unmistakable, but no one knows exactly why this is happening. Click here to read the full article.
As someone certified for a decade to assist people enrolling in health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (the ACA, also known as Obamacare), I’m pretty sure I know one major reason. For a decade, Obamacare has improved the health of millions of Americans with affordable health insurance that includes no-cost preventive care.
The cause and effect is obvious. If you have an annual check-up — free under Obamacare — it’s more likely any health issues will be identified early. You’ll find out if your cholesterol or blood pressure is too high, or if your PSA (an indicator of prostate cancer) is elevated, or if you’re pre-diabetic. If you have an annual mammogram, also free, your breast cancer will more likely be caught at an early stage. And when you can afford an office visit, you’re more likely to bring little things — which sometimes turn into big things — to the attention of a doctor.
As healthier Americans turn 65 and become eligible for Medicare, they are costing Medicare far less than 65-year-olds who suffer from untreated, often chronic, health conditions because they were uninsured. In the early years of Obamacare, I encountered dozens of low- and middle-income members of our community who hadn’t seen a doctor in years. And I’ll never forget the woman who, upon learning that she qualified under the ACA for government-subsidized health insurance and didn’t have to wait until she was on Medicare to see a doctor, pulled me into a hug and wept with relief. I wondered how long she must have been dealing with health conditions she couldn’t afford to take care of.
We Democrats passed, nurtured, and defended the ACA. Republicans have spent more than a decade trying to kill it, all the while portraying themselves as frugal stewards of taxpayers’ money. How ironic that Obamacare is now proving to be what one health policy expert quoted by The New York Times called “the most important thing that has happened to the federal budget in the last 20 years.”
What Obamacare’s free preventive care and low-cost office visits adds up to is healthier people aging into Medicare. You don’t have to be a public health Ph.D. to know that if 65-year-olds qualify for Medicare after years of neglecting their health they will cost Medicare way more than 65-year-olds who have been getting annual check-ups and immunizations and bringing any changes in their health to the attention of a physician.
Just one more reason why I spend so much time working to elect Democrats.
September is Suicide Prevention Month
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, 988 provides 24/7 connection to confidential support. There is hope. You are not alone. Just call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You will be connected to a trained crisis counselor who can help.
Click here to read the White House Proclamation that declares September 10, 2023, as World Suicide Prevention Day.
Governor JB Pritzker is Coming to Lake County to Support State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart
RSVP online or contact Sam Langheim at (715) 892-3522 or sam@nineteensixtycampaigns.com.
Lake Dems 2nd Annual Shades of Blue Fundraiser
Our Lake County Board, with fourteen Democrats to five Republicans, has officially allocated all of the $135.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds it received from the federal government.
The projects funded demonstrate the Lake County Board’s commitment to pursuing long-term equity-informed initiatives to support our residents and local businesses.
View a complete list of programs and initiatives that were funded.
Senator Mary Edly-Allen Petition Kickoff in Round Lake
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Democrats showed their support for the re-election of State Senator Mary Edly-Allen (pictured on right in the photos above). She is shown with Illinois State Senator Adriane Johnson, Lake County Board Member Jennifer Clark, and Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart (photo above left).
Sara Knizhnik Fundraiser for Re-Election to the Lake County Board
Showing their support for Sara Knizhnik’s re-election to Lake County Board were (l-r), Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart, Lake County Board Members Paul Frank, Sara Knizhnik, Jennifer Clark, Carissa Casbon and Angelo Kyle, and State Senator Adriane Johnson.
Did You Get Your Lake Dems Hat Yet?
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Running errands or staffing a petition drive? You need a Lake Dems hat and you can get one for $20 (close to our cost). Proceeds help Lake Dems elect more Democrats. Additional donations are always welcome. You can pick up your hats or we’ll mail them for a small fee of $5. Order your Lake Dems hat today: lakedems.org/hats |
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What Goes Great with a Lake Dems Hat? A Lake Dems T-Shirt, of Course!
Now is the perfect time to order your Lake Dems T-shirt to wear to all of our events — with your Lake Dems hat!
T-shirts are $9 each (our cost) but additional contributions are always welcome.
ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)
Duckworth Slams Cartoon Mocking Senators as Disabled and Aged
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) Gives Weekly Briefing Available to Watch on c-span.org
Upcoming Events
WEDNESDAY, SEP. 13
Tracy Katz Muhl Community Reception in Highland Park. From 5-6:30pm, address provided upon RSVP. More.
Fremont Township Democrats September Meeting. 6pm, Mundelein. More.
Lake County Community Meeting on Broadband Access and Digital Equity. 6-8pm, Grayslake. More.
THURSDAY, SEP. 14
Screening of “America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston.” 7pm, Highland Park. More.
SUNDAY, SEP. 17
Libertyville Township Democrats’ Donuts for Democrats Petition Drive. 9am-12pm, Libertyville. More.
MONDAY, SEP. 18
Workshop: How to Appeal Your Property Tax Assessment – Deerfield. 7pm, Deerfield. More.
TUESDAY, SEP. 19
Workshop: How to Appeal Your Property Tax Assessment – Lake Forest. 2pm, Lake Forest. More.
Deputy Voter Registrar Training in Waukegan. 3pm, Waukegan. More.
WEDNESDAY, SEP. 20
Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking – Youth and Labor Trafficking. 8:30am-4pm, North Chicago. More.
Indivisible Western Lake County (IWLC) September Meeting with Rep. Laura Faver Dias. 7-8:30pm, Lindenhurst. More.
SUNDAY, OCT. 15
Lake Dems 2nd Annual Shades of Blue Fundraiser. 2-4pm, Deerfield. More.
For the complete list of Upcoming Events, go to lakedems.org/events.
Click here to submit your event for consideration.
How Do I Join Lake County Democrats?
Lake County Democrats is made up of people like you, people who are passionate about building better communities and a better world. We’re a grassroots political organization, working with Democrats in all parts of Lake County – from Antioch to Highland Park, Libertyville to Waukegan, Barrington to Zion. Become a member online now, (individual: $35/couples $60 – though more is always appreciated), or send a check payable to Lake County Democrats to P.O. Box 671, Lake Zurich, IL 60047. Questions? Contact info@lakedems.org.
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